Photo-composing machine



April 26, 1932. A. T. KOPPE 1,855,356

PHOTO GOMPOSING MACHINE Filed Nov. 9, 1929 10 Sheets-Sheet 1 Q ELI/@7757? ale/xa/wer Z721 a A. T. KOPPE PHQTO COMFOSING MACHINE A ril 26, 1932.

Filed Nov. 9. 1929 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 El El EIUDEIEIEIEIEIEI uucmummuu DEIDUEIEIEIU DDDDDDU DDDUDDUU A. T. KOPPE PHOTO COMPOSING MACHINE A ril 26, 1932.

Filed Nov. 9, 1929 10 Sheets-Sheet 3 llllllllllli E -YIE I use April 26, 1932. A. "r. KbPPE PHOTO COMPOSING MACHINE Filed Nov. 9. 1929 10 Shets-Sh'eet 4' w w man how w QQN 5 1.1.4.1.. V n QQN WQN a EN 5 mum 3N hhN h QhN Qa k WMN hhN April 26, 1932. KOPPE PHOTO COMPOSING MACHINE Filed Nov. 9 1929 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 EEZJ/ZW Z3760 p2 M xmdar m QN NS N RR April 26, 1932. A. T. KOPPE PHOTO COMPOSING MACHINE 1929 10 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Nov. 9

April 26, 1932. A. T. KOPPE I 1,855,356

PHOTO 'COMPOSING MACHINE Filed Nov. 9, 1929 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 Patented A rlzs, 1932 PATENT OFFICE ALEXANDER T. KOIPPE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS PHOTO-COMPOSING MACHINE Application filed November 9, 1929. Serial No. 406,085.

This invention relates to improvements in photo-composing machines and its purpose is to provide a machine which may be employed in the lithographic-arts for photographically transferring images or designs ,carried by photographic negative or positive printing plates to sensitized metal press plates adapted for use in offset printing presses, or for transferring the images or designs carried by positive printing plates of glass or the like to sensitized plates of glass or other transparent material to produce photographic negatives each carrying one or a plurality of subjects in predetermined po sitions. The machine of the present invention may be'u'sed for reproducing upon sensitized metal press plates theimages or designs which are to form the component parts of a completed multi-color printing job wherein one press plate is employed for printing each color and the machine may also be used for the manufacture of photographic negatives, each carrying one or more images or part-images which are to be reproduced upon the press plate.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an improved method and improved means for utilizing vacuum pressure by obtaining a close contact between the printing plate and the sensitized plate. My prior pattent, Reissue No. 16,567, dated March 8, 1927, disclosed a photo-eomposing machine in which a close contact between the printing plate or negative and the sensitized plate is obtained by exhausting the air from the region between two plates and thereby causing the pressure of the atmosphere acting on the outer surfaces of the plates to force them together. The present invention is distin guished from that of my prior patent in that one of the plates is enclosed entirely within the vacuum chamber while. the other plate forms a portion of one wall of the chamber and has some freedom of movement with respect to the opposite flexible wall of the chamber so that atmospheric pressure acting on opposite sides of the chamber forces the two plates togetherto obtain a more perfect contact than has heretofore been possible, whereas in the structure of my prior patent,

the two plates formed portions of opposite walls of the vacuum chamberwithout either plate being itself enclosed within said chamberso that the freedom of movement of these plates under the influence of atmospheric pressure wassomewhat restricted, particularly when operating upon an intermediate portion of the sensitized plate, so that the contact between the sensitized plate and the printing plate or negative, while suflicient for all ordinary'photo-composing purposes, did not result in the same close contact as that obtained by the present invention and could not produce the same accuracy of detail in reproduction on the sensitized sur- 5 face as that which follows from'the use of the present invention. In the use of vacuum pressure printing frames, such as those disclosed in.the Soltmann Patent No. 654,421, dated July 24, 1900, and the McCaslin Patent No. 683,059, dated September 24:, 1901, it has been possible to obtain contact between a printing plate or negative film and a sensitized sheet by means of vacuum pressure with both of the contacting sheets or plates enclosed within a vacuum chamber but those printing frames have been adapted for use in reproducing a single image only on one sensitized sheet and have not been capable of use for reproducing anumber of images or 30 designs in predetermined positions over the surface of a relatively large sensitized sheet. The present invention obtains the advantage .of having at least one of the contacting plates enclosed entirely within the vacuum chamber in combination with means for effecting relative adjustment of the printing plate and the sensitized plate so that a large num-' ber of images may be reproduced in predetermined positions over the surface of the sensitized plate with great accuracy and without disturbing the high degree of vacuum which may be obtained in the chamber in which the sheet or plate is enclosed.

By reason of the high degree of pressure which is obtained by the present invention and the minute contact which is brought about between the plates over all portions of their areas, it is possible to use the photocomposing machine of the present invention j for the manufacture of photographic nega tives, intended for use in the same or other photo-composing machines, by exposing the photograp ic positive in direct'contact with the sensitized plate upon which the negative impressions are to be reproduced, thus avoiding' the necessity of using projection cameras for this purpose and greatly reducing the cost of preparing photographic negatives carrying either one or a plurality of subjects thereon.

One of the objects of the resent invention is to provide means for faci itating the withdrawal of the air from the region between the printing plate and the sensitize plate and other surrounding contacting portions of the vacuum chamber so that a more perfect and uniform contact is obtainable between the two plates than has heretofore been possible. Still another object is to provide a photocomposing machine havingmeans for obtaining a close contact between the printing plate with the sensitize atmosp outer side of the printin plate or negative.

and the sensitized late by vacuum pressure plate entirely enclosed within the vacuum chamber and engaged on i enter or rear side b a flexible rubber blanket or the like whic is acted upon directly by atmos heric pressure so that each unit of area of t e sensitized plateis forced b atmospheric pressure toward the printing p ate or negative to obtain a uniform contact over each unit of area. A further object is to provide improved means for facilitating the access of atmospheric'pressure to the under or outer side of the rubber blanket which constitutes one wall of the vacuum chamber so that uniform atmospheric pressure acts on all portions ofthe blanket beneath or behind the sensitized plate to force it toward the prlntinfi plate or negative in opposition to the eric pressure acting on the upper or A further object of the mvention is to provide a photo-composing machine having a flat cover plate having an opening within which the printing plate or negative is mounted and arranged to engage a sealing member mounted on the carrier for the sensitized plate to form a chamber from which the air may be withdrawn. further object is to provide a photo-com osing machine having a cover plate adapte .to have a seal- 7 ing engagement with the carrier for the sensitized plate and having an opening within which any one of a plurality of negative carriers may be mounted, said negative carriers being adapted to hold ne atives of a plurality of different sizes. Anot er object-of the invention is to provide a photo-composing machine having a sensitized plate carrier comprising an outer frame having mounted therein a flexible blanket adapted to form one wall of the vacuum chamber and arranged to engage. a holder or tray which is movably mounted in predetermined position in the erative position of the cover plate and arranged to support the carrier for the sensitized plate so that various portions of the sensitized plate maybe positioned accurately opposite t e image-carrying portion of the negative or printing p ate. Other ob ects relate to various features of onstruction and arrangement which will ap r more fully hereinafter. 1 v

- The nature of the invention will be understood from the following specification taken with the accompanying drawin in which one embodiment is'lllustrated. n the drawin ig. 1 shows a top plan view of the improved photo-composing machine with the top plate or cover plate thereon 1n its horizontal operative position;

Fig. 2 shows an enlarged detail section taken on the line 22 of ig. 1;

Fig. 3 shows a top plan view of the machine with the cover plate thereof removed, thereby revealing-a carrier for the sensitized plate and the means by which this carrier is adjusted along two right angplar paths to position various portions of t e sensitized late opposite the image-carrying portion the prmting plate which is mounted on thecover' latep Fig 4 shows an enlarged plan view of a portion of the rubber blanket which is referably emplo ed as the lower wall 0 the vacuum ch'am erand also on the tray which carries the sensitized plate;

Fi 5 shows a large detailsection taken on the hue 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 shows an enlarged side elevation of the improved photo-composin machine with the cover plate tilted upwar y to its inoperative position;

Fig. 7 shows an enlarged vertical section through one of the rollers which su ort the forward portion of the-lower tahle upon which the sensitized plate carrier is indirectly mounted; r

Fig. 8 showsan enlarged front elevation of the improved machine with the lower part of the frame broken away. and with the cover plate elevated out of engagement with the sealing member which forms a part of the sensitized plate carrier;

Fig. 9' is a front elevation of the machine, similar to that of Fig. 8, showing the cover plate lowered into engagement with the sealing member of the sensitized plate carrier; 1;:

Fig. is a detail section showing the lost motion connection between the operating shaft for the vacuum valve and the'crank arm through which a safety connection is estab- 5 lished with the means for raising and loweringjhe cover-plate; ig. 11 showsan enlargedvertical section taken on the line 11-11 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 12 shows an enlarged vertical'section 1o taken on the line 12-12 of Fig. 3; p

Fig. 13 shows an enlarged vertical section on the line 13-13 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 14 is an enlarged vertical section taken on the line 14-14 of Fig. 3;

35 Fig. 15 shows an enlarged vertical section taken on the line 15-15 of Fig. 3, showing the arrangement of the parts when the cover plate is elevated above the sensitized plate carrier;

2 Fig. 16 is a sectional view similar to that of Fig. 15, showing the arrangement of the parts when the-cover plate has been lowered into sealing engagement with the sealing .member of the sensitized plate carrier and a communication with a source of suction established so that a vacuum is created in the vacuum chamber and the sensitized plate and negative forced into close contact;

Fig. 17 is a detail section taken on the line 17-17 of Fig. 15, showing the grooves in the under side of the cover plate which facilitate the exhaustion of the air from the region between the negative and the underlying portion of the sensitized plate;

3 Fig. 18 is a side elevation, partially in section, of the tray upon which the sensitized metal press plate is adapted to be mounted in the manner illustrated in Figs. 3 and 15;

Fig. 19 is a detail vertical section taken on the line 19-19 of Fig. 15, showing the grooves in the upper surface of the outer portion of the sensitized plate carrier which facilitate the passage of air from the recessed area occupied by the sensitized plate carry- 5 ing tray to the air channel which is formed in the outer portion ofthe sensitized plate carrier;

Fig. 20 shows atop plan view of one of the negative carrying frames adapted for use with the present invention and arranged tocarry a negative of a particular size;

- Fig. 21 shows a top plan View, similar to that of Fig; 20, ofanother negative carrying frame of the same external dimensions, adapted to carry a negative or printing plate of another size;

Fig. 22 shows a bottom plan view of the negative carrying frame illustrated in Fig. 20;

Fig. 23 shows an enlarged vertical section taken on the line 23-23 ofFig. 22, with the frame in its upright position;

Fig. 24 shows a top plan view similar to that of Fig. 3 with the cover plate of the machine removed and with the sensitized plate carrying frame equipped with a tray adapted to support a sensitized glass plate when the machine is being employed for the manufacture of negative plates;

Fig. 25 shows an enlarged Vertical section through the form of tray which is employed for carrying a glass plate when making negatives;

Fig. 26 shows an enlarged vertical-section,

taken 011 the line 26-26 of Fig. 24, and

Fig. 27 shows an enlarged vertical section taken on the line 27-27 of Fig. 24:.

As illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, the invention is embodied in a machine comprising a supporting frame 30 adapted to rest upon a floor or other foundation and carrying a lower carriage or supporting member 31 which is movable in one direction on the frame and which in turn supports an upper carrier or supporting member 32 movable on the member 31 in a direct-ion at right angles to the movementof the member 31 on the frame 30. The upper carrieror supporting member 32 supports the sensitized plate holdor 33 which is adapted to cooperate with the negative carrier '34: mounted on the top cover plate 35. This cover plate is hinged on one side of the frame 30 so that it may swing upwardly to the-position shown in Fig. 6 and when it is lowered to the horizontal position shown in Figs. 1 and 9, it is adapted to cooperate with a. sealing flange of the sensitized plate carrier 32 to form a vacuum cham- The frame 30 comprises longitudinal side frame members 36 extending longitudinally of the machine at the front and rear sides thereof and having depending legs 36 which engage the floor or other support. The side frames 36 are connected at their ends by the end frame members 37, thus providing a rigid support for the movable parts of the ma chine. The lower supporting member 31 is provided on its under side along its rear edge with a V-shaped groove 38 which is adapted to travel on the V-shaped guide 39 formed on the rear side frame member 36, as shown in Figs. 6, 13 and 14. Along its forward edge, the supporting member or carriage 31 is provided with a pair of rollers 40 which are mounted on shafts ll secured in flanges 31 of the carriage and secured therein by 'set screws 42, as shown in Fig. 7. A roller bearing 43 is mountdwithin theroller 40 on the central reduced portion41Fofeach shaft and the central ring of this roller bearing is held in place b a pair of nuts 44 which enga e the th'reade part 41 of the shaft. The -shap'edgiii.de at the rear side of the carriage 32 maintains it in proper alignment on the frame and the rollers 40 which -travel on a longitudinal flat surface 45, formed on the forward frame member 36, permit some movement of the carriage 31 transversely of the machine due to changes in temperature or other causes. The supporting carriage 31' is adjustable longitudinally of the machine by means of a screw threaded shaft 46 which has one end journaled in a bearing 47 carried Y by one of the end frame members 37 and which has the reduced p'ortion46' at the other end thereof journaled in a bearin 48 carried by the other end frame member 3 as shown particularly in Fig. 11. -Roller thrust bearmgs 49 are mounted on the-portion 46" of the shaft at each end of the bearing 48 and the projecting end of the shaft has a fixed crank '5' handle 51 by which the shaftmay be turned engagement of the threads 46 of the. shaft to effect adjustment of tlie'table 31 through with sleeves 52'which are secured within the taken up bearing members 53 secured to the under side of the carriage 31 and extending downwardly from the middle portion thereof. The threaded sleeves 52 are secured in adjusted position within the bearing members 53 by ock nuts 54 mounted on their outer ends and f 85 bv suitably adjusting these sleeves toward each other, all lost motion between the threads of the shaft 46 and the carriage 31 may be so-that each turn or partial turn of the sha will produce a predetermined linear movement of the carriage longitudinally of the machine. When'. the carriage has been adjusted toithe desired extent, it "may be secured in position by a set screw 55 which engages-the upper side of the bearing 48 and the part 46 of the shaft and which may be operated b a, removable handle 56. For the urpose- 0 indicating the position occupied y the carriage 315a sprocketrchain 57 is secured to a part 58 carried by the rear side of the carriage 31 and this chain meshes with a sprocket wheel 59 secured on a shaft 60 which r is journaled' in a bearing 61 carried by the rear longitudinal frame member 36 and held against longitudinal movement therein by a collar 62 located on the opposite side of the bearing from the sprocket wheel, as shown in Figs. '3 and 11. A weight63 is attached tothe end of the chain 57 beneath the sprocket wheel so that upon movement of the carriage 31, a corresponding rotation of the sprocket wheel 59 onthe shaft 60 is efiected. Upon the outer end of the shaft 60 there is mounted an indicating wheel 64 having graduations which move in proximity to a stationary i1 dex mark 65 so that the position of the carrlage may be determined by referring to the graduation which is positioned opposite the index mark or pointer. The ap roximate position of the carriage 81 may be etermined y this means and a more accurate determination may b a made by reference to a micrometer disk 66 which is secured on the end of the shaft 46 adjacent the crank handle 50 which has its graduations arra'n "d to move in. proximity to an index mark 6 located on member 32, as shown particularly in'Figs.' 12,15 and 16.' Alon its opposite edge, the carrier 32 is rovi ed with flat surfaces 7 2 which coact with flat surfaces 73 formed on the carriage 31 so that some movement of Q the carrier 32 on the carria 31 may take. place, transverselylto the guide 7 O, in order to allow for expansion and contraction. The carrier 32 is moved transversely of the machine on-the carriage 31 b means of a screw 95 threaded shaft 75, shown in Fig. 13, which is I journa-led in a bearing 7 6 carried by the carriage 31 and also a sleeve-like bearing bracket 77 which is secured to the carriage 31 and arranged to project forwardl1y' therefrom 0 through an" opening 78 forme n the side frame member 36. The threaded poltion of this shaft engages internally threaded sleeves 79 which are vsecuredwithin bearing members 80 attached to the under side 'of the carrier 32. The sleeves 79 are held against-rotation within the bearing members 80 and are adjustable longitudinally'tlierein by lock nuts 81 which engage their outer threaded extremities, so that all lost motion between the bearing members 80 and the shaft 7 5 may be taken up to cause a positive movement of the carrier32 upon rotation of the shaft 75. Roller thrust bearings 82 are mounted in recesses in the bearing sleeve 77 at opposite ends of the reduced portion 7 5} of the shaft 75 .and the outer end of the shaft 75 has a crank handle 83 secured thereon .so that the shaft may be manually rotated to effect adjustment of the carrier 32 transversely: of the machine. When-the carrier has been moved to the desired position, it may be secured by a set screw 84 which passes through the bearingsleeve 77 to en age the part 7 5" of the shaft, and which may the'purpose of indicating the position of the carrier 32-on the'carriage 31, a sprocket chain 86 is secured to the under sideo'f the carrier 32 at its rear edge, as-shown in Fig. 14, and 130 I d I grooves 71 formed in the under side of the operated by a removable crank'handle 85. For

"91. A collar 92 is secured to the shaft 90 at one side of the bracket 91 and at the other side thereof a micrometer or index wheel 93 is secured on the shaft and arranged to have its graduations move adjacent to the index mark on a pointer 94 which extends upwardly from the bracket 91. The sprocket chain 86, after passing around the sprocket wheel 89, extends toward the rear of the machine and around another pulley 95 which is rotatably mounted in a bracket 96 depending from the table 31. The chain extends downwardly from the pulley 95 and has a weight 97 secured thereto so that upon movement of the carrier 32 transversely of the machine, the weight 97 and chain 86 effect a corresponding rotation of the shaft 90. Due to the splined connection of the shaft 90 with the sprocket gear 89, the carriage is permitted to move longitudinally of the machine while retaining the connection of the carrier 32 with its indicating means. 'When a longitudinal movement of the carriage 31 takes place, the projecting portion of the shaft 75 for adjusting the carrier 32, moves longitudinally in the slot- 78 which is formed in the front frame member 30. v In addition to the index or micrometer wheel 93 and pointer 94 which give the approximate position of the upper supporting carrier 32, the shaft 75 is provided with a micrometer disk 98 having graduations which move in proximity to an index mark 99 on the bearing sleeve 77 so that movements corresponding to fractional degrees of rotation of the shaft 75 are indicated by the pointer 99.

The upper supporting member or carrier 32 comprises a flat horizontal plate 100 which constitutes in effect the carrier for the sensitized plate which is mounted thereon through the intermediate movable tray or holder 33 hereinafter described. The plate 100 is provided with a central rectangular depression 101 surrounded by an annular rectangular rib or flange 102.. In the bottomof the depression 101 there is located a flexible rubber blanket 103 which is seated on the upper flat surface of the plate and secured theretoby screws 10 i passing through bars 105 and into the plate through the blanket, as shown particularly in Figs. 15 and 16. The blanket 103 is adapted to form the lower wall of the vacuum chamber in which a close contact is effected between the sensitized plate and the printing plate and,

in order that the atmospheric ressure may act directly on the under side 0 this blanket, that portion of the plate 100 whichjconstitutes the bottom wall of the depression .101", is provided with two parallel rows of apertures 106 extending downwardly therethrough with the oppositely located apertures in opposite rows connected by grooves 107 formed in the upper surface of the plate 100, thus allowing free'access of the atmos- .pheric air to the under side of the blanket. Around the outer side of the rib 102, there is mounted a continuous sealing member 110 formed of rubber or other similar material which seats against the channel-shaped member 111 secured to the carrier b screws 112 and which is secured in pla e y retaining bars 113 and clips 114. Th exclips engage the outer sides of the bars 113 a d the lower flange 110 of the sealing member and are secured to the outer side of the carrier or table by screws 115. The space between the sealing member 110 and the rib or flange 102 constitutes a suction channel 116 through which the air is withdrawn from the region between the carrier and the top plate 35. In order to permit access to this air channel of the air which is confined within the sealing member 110, the upper flange of the.

a connection which is established throu ha pipe 118 extendmg through one wall of the channel, as shown in Fig. 3, and connected with a flexible conduit 119 which leads to an exhaustpipe 120 mounted on the frame of the machine and connected with a suction pump. A valve 121 is mounted in the pipe 120 to control the connection of the pipe 1.18 with the source of suction and the flexible conduit 119 is of such length that it will accommodate itself to the necessary longitudinal and transverse movements of the sensitized plate carrier.

Mounted within the depression 101 of the sensitized plate carrier, there is located a base plate or tray 125 which forms the sensitized plate holder 33 and is in the form of a flat having a pair of oppositely disposed dowel holes 126 therein detachably engaged by the upper rounded extremities of the dowel pins 127 whi h are fixed in the plate 100'and armetal plate resting on the blanket 103 and' opposite edges enga tact freely and uniformly with aprinting plate or ne ative positioned above 1t.- The sensitized p ate 135 is laid on the upper surface of the blanket and is secured thereto by thin strips of adhesive tape .136 which overlap the outer edge of the plate and adhere both to the plate and the blanket, as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 15. The sensitized plate may be secured to the tray 125 when it is out of the machine and then when the tray is is illustrated as the front to the rear of the cover and aresecured to the plate proper by. welding or surfaces of the rectan dropped into lace on the carrier" with the dowel pins 12 engagin the holes 126, the parts are in readiness or the top plate 35 to be lowered in order to position the negative or printing plate 0 posite the sensitized plate which may e a zinc pressplate adapted for use in an offset printing press. In order to facilitate the passage of air from the region between the press plate and the.

negative to the air channel 116, the upper lar rib or flange 102 is preferably rovide with a number of outwardly exten ing grooves 137, as shown particularly in Figs. 3, 15 and 19, and in order that the" air may be exhausted readily fromv the region beneath the tray 125 and beneath the press plate, one or both of the blankets 103 and 130,may be formed of'rubber fabric havin a rou hened upper surface such as that own ini s. 4 and 5, where the blanket in provided with a lower reenforcing layer 0 fabric on which is carried' a layer of rubber havin a number of upwardly extending rectan ar projections 138 formedthereon and arranged in rows, leaving interveningintersecti-ng air channels 139 throughout the upper'area of the blanket so that the airis permitted to passthrough these channels beneath the plate positioned thereon.

Thetop cover plate 35 is reenforced on its up r side b a pairof T-iron members 140 w 'ch exten parallel to each other from other suitable means. At its. rear edge, the

"-cover plate is secured to the frame 30 by hinges 141 each of which comprises a bracket 141 secured to the frame and another bracket 141 securedgto the cover plate. The bracket 141' of each hinge is provided with a rightangular bearing seat 141' engaged by a trunnion'141' which projects between the oppo- 'of and nausea site ears 141 of the complementary bracket 141 the seats 141 and are adapted to pivot there-. on when the cover plate 35 is tilted u wardly to the position shown in Fig.6, but t is construction also permits the cover plate 35 to be moved bodily in an upright direction when it is occupying a horizontal position. The ears 141 en age the sides of the bracket 141" to position t e cover plate accurately on the frame. The cover plate is further accurately positioned when in ahorizontal osition by-- a dowel pin 142 secured to the rame and extending upwardly through a dowel hole 143 formed in the cover plate. The pin 142, like the bearing The trunnions 141 rest normally on seats 141, is of sufiicient' length to permit a limited up and down movement of the cover plate without disengage. ment therefrom. A pair of bars 144 are secured to the rear sideof the frame 30 and extend upwardly therefrom, being provided with pulleys 145 rotatably mounted at their upper ends. The bars 144 carry channels, 145 in which counterweights 146 are located and these counterweights are connected with chains 147 which extend upwardly around the pulleys 145 and are provided at their ends with eyelets 148 detachably engaging pins 149 pro ecting laterally from the vertical anges of the T-bars 140. -When the chains 147 are thus attached to the cover plate, the counterweights 146 facilitate the movement of the cover plate to and from the inclined, position shown in Fig. 6 and when the cover plate is in its horizontal. operative position,

the chains 147 may be detached therefrom so that the limited vertical movements of the cover plate 35 which are brought about to permit relative ad'ustment of the printing fitted by t e rlntin .plate holder 34 previ- 7.:

ously referre to. eopening 150 is bounded around its ed by a sealing flange or gasket 1510f rectangular outline which is secured in place by a clamping plate 152 and which has an inner downwardly and inwardly inclined surface 151adapted to engage a correspondingly inclined surface around the outer edge of the holder 34. The holder 34 comprises a flat metal plate 153v having a rectangular inclined edge surface 153"to engage e sealing flange or gasket 151 and it is provided with a reenforcing frame mom ber or extension 154 of' rectangular outline which-is secured onthe upper surface there'- of the p ate 153 when the holder 34 is in place on the cover plate 35, as shown in Fig. v15. The extension plate 154 is provided with four handles. 155. which are arranged op osite other in pairs that they may "enoutwardly beyond the edge plate and the sensitized plate, are not affected gaged by the hands of the operator to permit the holder to be placed on the cover plate and removed. ()nthe outer sides of these handles, small plates 156 are secured to the upper side of the extension plate 154 and dowel holes 157 are formed through these plates 156 and the underlying portions of the plate 154 to be engaged by dowel pins 158 which are rounded at their. upper ends to permit them to engage the dowel holes readily and which have a sufficiently accurate fit in the dowel holes to locate the holder 34 accurately in position on the cover plate 35. The holder 34 is square andthe holes 157 of each pair are spaced apart the same distance as the holes of the other pair so that the holder 34 may be turned through an angle of ninety degrees and again placed in position on the cover plate with the other set of holes 157 engaging the dowel pins 158.

The plate 153 of the negative holder is provided with a central rectangular opening 159 adapted to be engaged by the printing plate 160 which may be either a photographic negative or positive and which is illustrated 1n the drawings as being a glass plate carrying the image or design to be reproduced on its under surface. The printing plate 160 is held in adjusted position in the holder 34 by means of clamps 161 which engage the edges of the printing plate. and which carry screw threaded adjusting members 162* adapted to be operated by knurled nuts 163 which are positioned in openings 164 formed in blocks 1 165 secured to the upper surface of the plate 153 and having the adjusting members 162 slidably mounted therein. The plates 161 on their inner edges are provided with relatively fixed sheets of leather or the like 161 which directly engage the edges of the printing plate 160. On opposite sides of the aperture 159, the plate-engaging edges of the clamping plates 161 and the associated leather sheets 161* are beveled as shown in Fig. 15 so that they securely retain. the corre-- spondingly formed edges of the printing plate in position. As illustrated in Figs. land 20, the opening 159 in the holder 34 is oblong in shape to receive a correspondingly shaped printing plate 160 but it may be constructed as shown in Fig. 21, where the holder 34 is shown as having an opening 159 therein which is more nearly square in form and which is adapted to accommodate a printing plate 160 of lesser area than the one which fits the holder 34 shown in Fig. 20. The holders 34 and 34 are, however, of the same external dimensions and the dowel holes 157 and 157 thereof are equally spaced so that one holder may be substituted for the other and will fit the opening 150 to form an air-tight seal with the flange or gasket 153 while at the'same time the dowel holes of any such holder will engage the dowel pins 158 to position the holder accurately on the cover plate. Although only two holders have been illustrated, it will be understood that any desired number may be used with a particular machine having openings 159 therein of any desired shape or dimensions. By this arrangement, a wide range of sizes of printing plates may be employed in a single machine by the substitution of different holders v that the image or part-image carried by the printing plate is located accurately with respect to the cover plate 35 and the machine on which it is mounted, and other'images or designs, which may or may not form the parts of a multi-color subject, are similarly accurately positioned so that in the case of a multi-color job, they will register properly with each other in the finished work printed from the pressplates.

In order to form an air seal between the outer portion of the printing plate 160 and the surrounding portion of the plate 153 of the holder, a sealing frame 166 is provided. This frame is of rectangular outline corresponding to the shape of the printing plate and comprises four metallic frame members 167 which are flexibly connected at their ends as shown at 168 in Fig. 1, to form a supporting frame to which is secured a channelshaped rubber sealing member 169 having 'a downwardly extending. rubber flange 170 engaging the upper surface of the printing plate 160 and another downwardly extending flange 17] which engages the upper surface of the plate 153, thus bridging the openmembers 167. The sealing frame 166 thus has some flexibility at its corners so that it may adjust itself to any irregularities in the surface contour or thickness of the printing plate while maintaining a continuous annular seal between the edges of the printing the web of the member 169 into the frame plate and the holder 34. In order to prevent accidental removal of the sealing frame 166 i so In order to-facilitate the as series of outwar 8 aeeasse from its proper position, as shown in Figs.

and 16, ide members 174 are secured to merit. As shown particularly in Fi 8, each.

bar 180 is guided at each end thereof y means the upper side of the plate 154, around the\ of a pin 181 which is secured infixed posiinner edge thereof, by means of screws 175.

These guide members extend around the lateral si es of the sealin frame and form a rectangular recess whic is loosely engaged by the sealing frame when in position on the holder. The flanges 170 and 171 are preferably grooved longitudinally along the1r 'lower edges as shown at 176 in Fig. 15 but when the cover plate 35 is moved downwardly into engagement with the sealing member 110 carried b the sensitized plate'carrier, and a u vacuum is established within the chamber occupied by the sensitized plate 135, the sealing members 170 and 171 are adapt-ed to be compressed by-the action of the atnios heric pressure and the grooves 176 then su stall 7 2 tiall disappear as shown in Fig. 16. From the oregoing description it will be apparent that with a seal established between the rinting plate and the holder by the sealing rame 466 and another seal established between the. cover plate ja'nd the sealing flange 110 of the sensitized plate carrier, a closed chamber is established when the cover plate 35 is in its lower osition, so that the 8.11 ma be exhausted t erefrom throu h the con uit 119. 0w of air from the region of the printing plate and the sensitized plate to the channel .116, located within the sealing flange 110, the under surface of the plate 153 is (pfieferably' provided with a. y extending grooves 177 as shown particularly in Fig. 22. The plates 153 ofthe holders are preferably'of thesame thickness as the plate 35 and the parts are so arranged that the lower surfaces of the printing plate 160, plate-153 and coverplate I 35'occup'y the same in Figs. 15' and 16.

orizontal plane as shown.

In order to permit adjustment of the sensitized plate in a horizontal lane when the as cover, plate 35 is in its norma horizontal position, means are provided for elevating the covervplate slightly from its lower '0 rative position, shown in Fig. 9 to the slig tly elevated position shown in i 8, thus permit- 4 so ting movement of the sensitized plate without injuring either'sensitized plate or the'print ing plate. The cover plate 35 is guided in its vertical-movement by-the interlocking parts of thehinges 141 and by the engagement. of

u the dowelpin 142 with the aperture 143. The.

vertical movement is effected by a pair of lifting bars .180 which are mounted 'parallel to, and on the innerside of, the u per parts of the side frame members 36, as s own fpar-, eo ticularl in Fig. 3. The upper ed e sur aces of the are 180 occupy horrzonta planes at all times and'are adapted to contact directly with the under surface of the cover late 35 so that the latter may be raised and owered without disturbing its 'horizontal arrangetion therein and which engages a slot. 182 formed in one of the upright guide members 183. These ide members are secured to bosses formed on the side frame members 36,'as shown in Fig. 3 and the slots 182 are open at their upper ends to permit the lifting bars 180 to be wlthdrawn for urposes of repair or the like. The pins 181' ave their ends enlarged on the sides of the guide members 183 opposite the bars 180, as shown at 181 so that the bars are retained against lateral displacement with respect to the guide members. The movement of the bars 181 with.

respect to their guides is effected by certain link mechanism comprising a pair of links 184 and a longitudinal actuating bar 185 at each side of the machine. The nks 184 are pivoted at 186 on the side frame members and the upper end of .each link has a pin 187 t mounted therein to engage a horizontal longitudinal slot 188 in the adjacent liftin bar to the guide slots' 82. The longitudmalmovement of the ctuating bars 185 is brought about by the rotary movement of a shaft 190 which is joumaled in'bearings carried by the front andrear' side frame members 36 and which has a crank arm 191 secured thereon adj acent eachside frame member. The outer end of each crank arm 191 is pivotally connected to a'r'od 192 which has its other 'endconnected to an operating lever 193. Each lever is pivoted at 194 onone side of the frame member and the upper end thereof carries a pin 195 which pivotallyengages an aperture in the adjacent actuating bar and alsp slidably engages a horizontal slot 188' formed in' the a jacent-liftin' bar 180. The angular movement of thesha causes 'a corresponding angular movement of the levers 193 and these levers impart a lo tudinal movement to the bars 185 so that t e thus pins 187 and move in theslots 188 and v 188 to'efiect a vertical movementofthe lifting hm: 'This an lar movement of the .shaft190 is effected y means of a handle 196 position shown in Fig. 9, the cover plate 35 m has been lowered so that the lifting bars 180 are out of immediate contact with it and. its lower surface rests freely upon the sealing flanges 110 of the sensitized plate carrier.

In order to prevent the elevation of the cover plate 35 and printing plate carrier 34 when a vacuum, or partial vacuum, exists within the chamber occupied by the sensitized plate, which might result in injury to the plates, in addition to destroying the register of one or both plates, a connection is established between, the mechanism for elevating the lifting bars 180 and the means for operating the valve 121 inthe suction line. This connecting means comprises a. crank arm 197 secured on the shaft 190, at the front side of the machine, and carrying a pin 198 at its outer end which engages a slot 199 formed in a connecting rod 200. The opposite e'nd portion of this connecting rod is bent downwardly as shown at 200 and the extremity thereof is pivoted at 201 to the outer end of a. crank arm 202 which is mounted on theshaft 203 of the valve 121. The shaft 203 of the valve is rotated by a crank handle 20s and when the suction valve 121 is opened, it tends to retain that position under the influence of a coil spring 205 which is connected between the pin 201 and a'stationary member 206 carried by the frame 36. The connection between the crank arm 202 and the shaft 203 of the valve is illustrated particucured on the shaft and which are adapted to I engage a stationary stop member 210, carried by the frame,'in each of the limiting positions of the shaft shown in Figs. 8 and 9. When the handle 196 has been turned toward the right to elevate the cover plate 35, as shown in Fig. 8, the pin 198 carried bythe crank arm 197 engages the extreme left hand end of the slot- 199 and thus holds the valve 121 in closed position., Then the handle 196 has been thrown to the position shown in Fig. 9, to-p'ermit the liftingbars and cover plate to lower, the length of the slot 199 permits the valve 121 to be opened and when this occurs, the crank arm 202 extends substantially horizontally,.as shown in Fig. 9, with the bent portion 200 of the connecting rod 200 extending; over the shaft 203 tion permitted" by the slot 202'. in the hub of the crank arm 202, permit the cover plate 35 to be raised and lowered freely.

The invention has been described above in connection with its use for making metal press plates, such as zinc press plates having a relatively small thickness, for example, twenty-five thousandths of an inch or less, for use on ofis'et printing presses, and although this arrangement of apparatus may be employed for making photographic negatives on thin transparent sheets and the like, they machine will ordinarily require some modification to adapt it for use in the manufacture of glass negatives having a considerable thickness' This modification of the--.

machine is illustrated in -Figs. 24, 25,26 and 27, wherein the structure is the same as that illustrated in Figs. 1 to 23, inclusive, except that the holder for supporting the sensitized plate is modified to receive a sensitized plate of greater thickness. The principalparts of the'machine illustrated in Figs. 24 to 27 inelusive, have therefore been lettered with the same numerals as those employed in describing the first mentioned use of the invention and the present description will be confined largely to those parts which are modified or changed. This modification lies chiefly in the tray 215'which corresponds to the tray or,

holder 125 previously described, This tray comprises a metal plate 216 having a rectangular opening 217 therein and having a rather, thin flexible rubber sheet 218 secured to the bottom thereof to form a bottom wall for the recess 217 in which the sensitized glass plate is adapted to be located. The op-' posite sides of the plate 216 and the-corresponding portions of the plate 218 are provided with dowel holes 219'which are adapt ed to be engaged by the vdowel pins 127 when thetray is positioned on the carrier of the" machine, as shown in Figs. 26 and 27. When so positioned, the rubber sheet 218 of the tray 215 rests on the rubber blanket 1 03 and the tray is free to move upwardly under the influence. of atmospheric pressure from be-- low when a vacuum is created in the chamber in which the tray is located. The recess 217 'is adapted to contain the sensitized glass plate 220 to which the images or part-im ages carried by the printing plate 160 are to be transferred by the action of light. This printing plate is seated in the recess 217 and bears against the rightangula-r edges of that recess while the outer side thereof is engaged by clamps 221 which are adjustably mounted on bars 222 by means of screws 223 which engage the bars andelongated slots in the clamping members. The recess 217 is shaped on two sides to receive the bars 222 having inclined ends 222 and when these' bars have been dropped into place, the clamping members 223 may be adjusted against two rightangular' edges of the plate 220 in order to seeuro this plate in predetermined position within the tray 215. When thus positioned, the sensitized glass plate occupies a definite position in the machine and is adapted to ave reproduced thereon one or a plurality of images 225 which are transferred thereto from the printing plate 160. In order to accommodate different thicknesses of glass plate 225, one or more sheets 226 of rubber or other flexible material may be placed, if necessary, in the bottom of the recess 217 between the rubber bottom plate 218 and the pressure depending on the degree of vacuum,

ut which is preferably from ten to fourteen pounds per square inch. In e'fi'ecting this transfer photographically by the action of light, an artificial source of light of relaa press plates, as illustrated in Figs. 1- to 23,

tively high candle power is preferably employed so that the exposure may be made in a comparatively. limited time, for example. two minutes or less, but such sources are well known to those skilled in the art and have not been illustrated in the drawings. Such a light source may be moved into position over the cover plate 35 after it has been lowered into horizontal position above the frame of the machine and it may be elevated out of the way after the exposure has been made and the operator desires to elevate the cover plate 35 to permit access to the holder for the sensitized plate.

With the use of the invention for making inclusive, or for making negatives, as illustrated in Figs. 24 .to 27 inclusive, the sensitized plate whetherit be a thin sheet or film,- or a relatively thick glass plate, is first secured within or upon the tray 125 or 215 and this tray is then positioned upon the sensitized plate carrier by causingjthe dowel pins 127 to engage two opposite apertures therein.

' The crank handle is then turned to effect the desired adjustmentof the carriage 31.

longitudinally of the machine, as indicated by the micrometer scales 64and 66. If necessary, the crank handle 83 may be adjusted also to effect a desired movement of the supporting member 32 transversely of the machine, as indicated by the scales 93 and 98. Assuming that a printing plate holder 34, with a printing plate in registered ppsition "therein, has previously been prepared in readiness for the work to be performed, the cover plate 35 is lowered into the horizontal position shown in Figs. 8, 13 and 14 and, after detaching the chains 147 from the cover plate, the printin plate holder 34 is placed in position on t 1e dowel pins 158 of the cover plate, and a sealing frame 166, of the proper size, is placed in position to seal the ap between the printing plate and the hol er, as shown in Fig. 15. The parts are then in the position shown in Figs. 8 and 15 or Fi 26, and the operator then throws the hand e 196 from the position shown in Fig. 8 to the position shown in Fig. 9, which allows the cover plate 35 to move downwardly until its lower surface engages the sealing rim 110 of the sensitized plate carrier to form a sealed chamber from which the air'may be withdrawn by suction. The ope ator then turns the handle 204 to openthe "notion valve which .resultsin exhausting the air from the chamber occupied by the tra 125 (or 215) which carries the sensitized p ate. Upon the formation of a more or less perfect vacuum in this chamber, the sealing member 110 is compressed as shown in Fig. 16,'or Fig. 27,

and similar compression is effected of the pressure pushing the cover, the printing plate holder and the sealing frame downwardly. At the same time, the atmospheric pressure which has free access to the under side of the rubber blanket 103 through the passages 106 and grooves 107 forces the blanket 103 upwardly as shown inFigs. 16 and 27, so that the sensitized plate is forced upwardly against the printing plate 160 at the same time that the printing plate is acted upon in a downward direction by the atmospheric pressure above it. The result of these opposed pressures of the atmosphere on opposite walls of the vacuum chamber withln .which the tray carrying the sensitized plate is mounted in a position to move freely in a vertical direction on the dowel pin 127, is that a more perfect contact is obtained between the printing plate and the sensitized plate than has heretofore been possible and this pressure is substantially uniform over each unit of area of the contacting plates so that the design arranged to be reproduced is re- 1 corded accurately and clearly upon all parts of the sensitized plate covered thereby,

'When one exposure hasbeen made, the crank handle 204 is turned to shut off the suction line, t the same time establishing an opening to the atmosphere so that atmospheric pressure may. again enter the chamber previously evacuated. When thishas been done, the operator turns the handle 19.6 from the position shown in Fig. 9 to that illustrated in Fig. 8, thus elevating the cover plate 35 and the negative holder 34 so that the operator 1s again permitted to adjust the crank handles 50 and 83 to locate a different portion of the sensitized plate in position to re- 

